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The subjunctive in Dutch is a verb mood in Dutch typically used in dependent clauses to express a wish, emotion, possibility, judgment, opinion, necessity, or action that has not yet occurred. It is also referred to as the conjunctive mood (Dutch: aanvoegende wijs) as it often follows a conjunction. As in English, the subjunctive mood in Dutch has been gradually replaced by modal auxiliary verbs. As a consequence, contemporary use is mostly, but not completely, confined to fixed and semi-fixed expressions. The below treatment of its usage thus comprises its historical use and its limited contemporary use.

Conjugation

Singular: the present or past infinitive of a verb is taken and the end -n is removed.
Plural: equals the present or past infinitive of a verb and the plural of the indicative, making it impossible to differentiate between the indicative and the subjunctive mood.
There's one exception to this rule: the past subjunctive of the verb worden (to become) is wierde(n) and not the expected regular werde(n).

Use

Dutch has the following moods: the non-finite mood (infinitive or onbepaalde wijs), the indicative mood (aantonende wijs), the imperative mood (gebiedende wijs) and the conjunctive mood (aanvoegende wijs). The conjunctive mood also comprises the optative mood (wensende wijs) and the conditional mood (voorwaardelijke wijs).

Wish

The subjunctive is used to express a wish.^[1] This mood is also called the optative mood. The main verb expresses a wish, demand or desire, such as willen (to want), begeren and verlangen (to desire), hopen (to hope), bidden (to pray), smeken (to beg) and waken and zorgen (to take care). Example sentences:

Ik hoop dat hij op tijd kome. (I hope he will come on time - In English the dependent clause that follows the verb "to hope" is always in an indicative mood.)
Hij wenst dat er eendracht tussen ons zij. (He wishes that there be unity among us.)

It is also possible to express a wish without using a dependent clause. Example sentences:

Lang leven de kinderen! (Long live the children!)
Mogen zij in vrede rusten. (May they rest in peace.)
Het ga je goed! (May things go well for you!)
God zegene en beware je. (May God bless and save you.)
Het geluk zij met u! (May the luck be with you!)
Hiermede moge ik u berichten dat wij uw brief goed hebben ontvangen.

In contemporary Dutch, the optative function of the subjunctive has to a large extent been replaced by the modal auxiliary verb "zullen" (will). Example sentences: Ik hoop dat hij op tijd zal komen (I hope he will come on time). Many religious texts and official government or business letters still make use of the optative subjunctive.

Condition

The subjunctive is used to imply a possibility.^[2] This is also called the conditional mood. Example sentences:

Ware hij koning... (If he were king...)
Hadde hij de kracht gehad... (If he would have had the strength...)
Vinde ik hem, ik zou... (If I would find him, I would...)
Ware de hulp op tijd gekomen, dan was de ramp niet geschied. (If help would have arrived in time, the disaster would not have occurred.)
Leefde hij nog, ik zou... (If he were still alive, I would...)
Hij ware een rijk man geworden, hadde hij langer geleefd. (He would have become a rich man if he had lived longer - the first sentence contains a subjunctive that expresses a doubt, see below.)
Sloege ik hem dood, ik dede een zonde. (If I would have hit him to death, I would have committed a sin.)

In contemporary Dutch, the conditional function of the subjunctive has almost been completely replaced by the combination of "als" (if) or "indien" (if) and the modal auxiliary verb "zouden" (would). For example: Als hij koning zou zijn... (If he would be king...) and Als hij nog zou leven... (If he would still be alive...).

Uncertainty and doubt

The subjunctive is used to express a doubt.^[3] Example sentences:

Al kwame hij nu, hij zou reeds te laat zijn. (Even if he would come now, he would be too late)
Ik vrees dat hij reeds overleden zij. (I fear that she would already have died.)
Ik twijfel of u daaraan wel voldoende moeite besteed hebbe. (I doubt that you have spent enough effort.)
Hij ware een rijk man geworden, hadde hij langer geleefd. (He would have become a rich man if he had lived longer - the second sentence contains a subjunctive that expresses a condition, see above.)

In contemporary Dutch, uncertainty is expressed by the modal auxiliary verb "zouden" (would).

In contemporary usage, these conjunctions are normally always followed by an auxiliary verb and an indicative mood.

Concession

The subjunctive implies a concession. Example sentences:

Hij ga waar hij wil.

Exhortation

The subjunctive can express exhortation.

Men neme drie eieren.
De lezer bedenke wel dat dit boek vijftig jaar geleden geschreven is.

After some conjunctions

Several conjunctions were always accompagnied with a subjunctive in the past, because these conjunctions always express a wish, concession, exhortation, condition or uncertainty.^[4] Some examples:

Opdat: Ik zal hem helpen opdat hij zijn doel bereike.
Ten einde: De boer vraagt naar regen ten einde zijn akker besproeid worde.
Mits: Ik wil haar graag in mijn huis ontvangen mits ze niet voor morgen kome.
Tenzij: Als je niet tevreden bent, tenzij ik je vraag beantwoorde, weet dan nu al dat ik dat niet doen zal.
- Interesting to know is that "tenzij" is a conjunction that stems from a subjunctive (ten zij).

Fixed expressions

In contemporary Dutch, a wide range of fixed expressions exist that make use of the conjunctive. Some examples:

Gebeure wat gebeuren zal en kome wat komen zal. (What will happen, shall happen and what will come, shall come.)
Koste wat het kost.
Redde wie zich redden kan.
Men zegge het voort.
God betere het, often shortened to Godbetert.
God verdoeme, often expressed as Godverdomme. (Goddamnit.)
God zij dank.
Hoe het ook zij.

References

^ (in Dutch) Dr. W. G. BRILL, Nederlandsche spraakleer, p. 346. [1]
^ (in Dutch) P. WEILAND, Nederduitsche spraakkunst, p. 147. [2] In the past the word Nederduits (Low German) was often used interchangeably with Nederlands (Dutch). This book treats Dutch and not Low German grammar.
^ (in Dutch) P. WEILAND, Nederduitsche spraakkunst ten dienste der scholen, p. 134. [3] In the past the word Nederduits (Low German) was often used interchangeably with Nederlands (Dutch). This book treats Dutch and not Low German grammar.
^ (in Dutch) P. WEILAND, Nederduitsche spraakkunst ten dienste der scholen, p. 289. [4] In the past the word Nederduits (Low German) was often used interchangeably with Nederlands (Dutch). This book treats Dutch and not Low German grammar.

[1] (in Dutch) Dr. W. G. BRILL, Nederlandsche spraakleer, p. 346. [1]

[2] (in Dutch) P. WEILAND, Nederduitsche spraakkunst, p. 147. [2] In the past the word Nederduits (Low German) was often used interchangeably with Nederlands (Dutch). This book treats Dutch and not Low German grammar.

[3] (in Dutch) P. WEILAND, Nederduitsche spraakkunst ten dienste der scholen, p. 134. [3] In the past the word Nederduits (Low German) was often used interchangeably with Nederlands (Dutch). This book treats Dutch and not Low German grammar.

[4] (in Dutch) P. WEILAND, Nederduitsche spraakkunst ten dienste der scholen, p. 289. [4] In the past the word Nederduits (Low German) was often used interchangeably with Nederlands (Dutch). This book treats Dutch and not Low German grammar.

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